Georgia will take an ugly win like this any time
Jarvis Jones had a monster game (three sacks, two forced fumbles) to lead Georgia. (Bob Andres/AJC)
Everybody is going to call it ugly. The quarterback was awful for most of the game. The opponent had six fumbles (four lost) and two interceptions. Two of the supposed best teams in the SEC swapped turnovers, penalties and dropped passes. If the late Sid Gillman was watching, he would’ve covered his eyes and screamed, “No! My eyes! My eyes!”
But does it matter?
Ugly is barely beating Kentucky after a bye week. Ugly is looking flawed against Buffalo and Florida Atlantic. Ugly is giving up 44 points to Tennessee. If beating the No. 2 team in the BCS — especially when it’s Florida — is considered ugly, it’s a canvas of ugly that the Bulldogs would wrap themselves in any day or night.
As Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, he of the three first-half interceptions, said Saturday night, “I know I’m going to get stressed out when I look at the film. But it’s still a great win.”
Georgia, drop-kicked at South Carolina three weeks ago, seemingly comatose in the SEC and again floundering in a season of high hopes, rode ugly back to respectability Saturday. The 17-9 win over Florida put the Bulldogs in control in the SEC East. They need only beat Ole Miss and Auburn to secure a berth in the conference championship — and in the process stomped on all those can’t-win-the-big-one claims.
Malcolm Mitchell danced into the end zone with a big touchdown after Aaron Murray's pass beat the blitz. (Bob Andres/AJC)
The win had historical significance: It was the Dogs’ first time winning in consecutive years against Florida since 1988 and ’89. That’s long ago enough that the coach for that first game was Vince Dooley.
The game also had personal significance for Mark Richt. Battered for doing so poorly against top-10 teams (1-9 since 2008), the Georgia coach stayed on the field long after the game was over, going from one end of the stands to the other, celebrating with fans.
Winning this game last season, some believed, may have helped saved his job. Winning the game this season was even more significant because of the Gators’ stature.
Appropriately, it happened because of
Mark Richt was only 1-9 against top 10 teams since 2008 before Saturday.
defense, in general, and Jarvis Jones, in particular. Jones had three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He knocked the ball loose from tight end Jordan Reed at the Dogs’ 18 with five minutes left, as Florida was moving in for a potential touchdown.
Jones’ amusing self-analysis: “I don’t know my stats, but I think I had a good game.”
The defense, whether motivated by external criticism or the internal slap from safety Shawn Williams, who called his team “soft,” had one of its better games of the season. Florida was held without a touchdown in a Georgia win for the first time since 1988.
Jones again: “I think what Shawn Williams did, he challenged us. Obviously we needed it. … Everybody was calling us names, calling us soft. ESPN, everybody on TV. Soft, soft, soft, soft, soft. As a man, you take it personal.”
Here’s a suggestion for Richt: Have one player call everybody a name every week. Couldn’t hurt.
Georgia led only 10-9 when Murray made amends for a mostly horrible night (12-of-24, three interceptions). On a third-and-5 from the Gators’ 45, he dropped back, beat blitzing safety Josh Evans and completing an 8-yard pass to Malcolm Mitchell. The receiver spun away from cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and then cut across the field and ran to the end zone, giving the Dogs a 17-9 lead with seven minutes left.
The game’s only other touchdown — a 10-yard run by Todd Gurley — came early in the game following a Florida fumble. Of course. Florida had six fumbles (losing four) and six turnovers (Georgia three). The teams combined for six turnovers in the first half. They didn’t need marching bands — just the percussion section with the sounds of crashing cymbals with every bobble and misfire.
The Gators had only four turnovers in their first seven games. Yet quarterback Jeff Driskel fumbled on two of the first three plays of the game (Jones recovering the second). See, it doesn’t matter how ugly one team is if the other is worse.
Linebacker Jordan Jenkins said the team was inspired by a pregame speech by defensive end Cornelius Washington, who touched on all of the expected themes: no respect, big game, rival opponent.
“It was the craziest and wildest he’s ever been,” Jenkins said. “He was talking about how everybody was doubting us. He had us all pumped up and ready to go out there and knock some heads.”
Sometimes, that’s how games are won. The win is all anybody will remember.
By Jeff Schultz
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844 comments Add your comment
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Your a dumbass Tampa Gator….Easley was called for holding Gurley not pass interference…it was very clear to everyone at the game and watching on TV…the Gators are a very average football team coached by a very average coach. Have fun watching the Gators lose to the Dawgs every year for the next ten years or so….I’d start making up your excuses now…your gonna need them!
1eyedJack
October 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. It was absolutely beautiful to me.
Ugly is a 41-17 dirt eater at home. Ugly is a half-filled stadium….to start the game.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
12:00 pm
Just because a game is at (see that word…AT…) a “neutral site”, it is still on the ROAD. Spin-it anyway you crybabies want, if it ain’t at home,,,,,,,,,,,it’s on the road. A neutral site is a ROADGAME FOR “BOTH” TEAMS…
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:03 pm
I had to come back on one more time. I am sitting here watching the end of the game. Georgia had 3rd and long with 1:54 seconds left on their own 20. Gurley ran up the middle and was stopped and thrown to the ground. Florida could have called time out and forced Georgia to punt. A ref came out of nowhere (the same one who made the call on Easley) and threw a flag for facemask on Leon Orr. I just watched the replay. No one even touched his face mask. Georgia was then able to run out the clock. Make that two phantom calls to help Georgia win that game……make it the phantom interference call (goes against college rules to call interference in the backfield) and the face mask call on Orr (no one touched Gurley facemask on that run). Those two calls were a total joke………I hope the SEC looks into those two calls………by the same ref.
I am not saying Florida would have won…..who knows……but those two calls were a total joke.
North Georgia Dawg
October 28th, 2012
12:06 pm
Go ahead, bash Georgia after they knocked off a team that was supposed to kill them. Yes, Florida played badly and did not have their best game. But Georgia still won the game and that’s all that matters. The defense was the different. Hunker down!!
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:08 pm
Adman….
Watch who you are calling a dumbass. Check college rules……..you cannot hold or be called for pass interference…..in the backfield. You can level any player if that player is in the backfield or in the nutural zone. DBs do it all the time. So do DTs. Gurley was 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage…..dumbass….yourself.
And Adman……(and we know admen never stretch the truth about a product)……ask Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina, and Georgia…….if they think Florida is an “average” team…..dumbass.
davidinloganville
October 28th, 2012
12:10 pm
I will bet that USC (the real one) would trade all those pretty stats and passing records for an ugly hard fought win!
davidinloganville
October 28th, 2012
12:12 pm
and quit blaming the refs it sounds silly
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
12:12 pm
Jeff
Why don’t you do a story about the sports commentators who are so biased against UGA for 4 quarters and then when they see the Dawgs are going to win, they knew it all along. Musberger and Lou Holtz have eaten so much crow, they grew feathers. When Murray threw an int., you never heard anything about the wind having an effect, only about how bad a pass it was. What a bunch of biased, know-nothing putz-pounders. They expected UF to win the entire game and were supprised at UGAs game. I loved it…
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
12:14 pm
Go Falcons…
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
Hey “put in Timeout”(11:32am post)…..who died and made you the authority on college football wins? I’ll bet you’ve never even played football.You wouldn’t know a good win from a bad win. Florida sucks and are way overrated and the Dawgs did a great job in pointing that out to the whole nation. Florida State will beat the Gators by 17 points.You did great job in pointing out to everyone how much of a dumbass you are…..hows it feel?
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:15 pm
Adman….or dumbass….or whatever you want to call yourself…..here is the college rule. Read and understand……
“A defender can only make contact with an offensive player away from the ball within the blocking zone — the first five yards from the line of scrimmage. If any restraint is made beyond that, a defensive holding penalty can be called.
AGAIN…..coming from this dumbass who can read and understand rules…….DOMINIQUE EASLEY hit GURLEY…4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. You can’t hold 4 yards behind the lne of scrimmage…THAT IS THE RULE. THE REF GOT IT WRONG…..as he did the Orr facemask call late in the game. JUST FACTS THAT ANY DUMBASS CAN UNDERSTAND.
Alphare
October 28th, 2012
12:16 pm
kingdaddy, did you bet your house on a dawg win? you must have won a bunches of houses, haven’t you?
I actually said I would bet my house on a dawg win until I heard the hurricane was coming. It turns out it had no effect.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:17 pm
Adman…..
I guess you spend a lot of time calling everyone a dumbass……but you need to stop looking in the mirror when you do it. You truly are a DUMBASS….you take that cake.
davidinloganville
October 28th, 2012
12:19 pm
Tampa Gator-
According to the letter of the rule as you posted it the interference called in the end zone on the GA nickle back (Brandon Smith #1) was not interference, while he had his hand on the receiver’s hip he did not “significantly hinders the progress of an eligible player of such player’s opportunity to catch the ball”.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:20 pm
….and when Easley put his hands on Gurley……he was moving through the line…..which is legal. It did imped his progress….but Easley did it legally. When the ball passed….Easley did not have his hands on Gurley. Watch for yourself.
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Tampa Gator sounds like you had a bad day yesterday?….most Florida fans like you always have an excuse for everything…let’s face it the Gators aren’t very good…average at best…and the DAWGS showed that to whole college football world yesterday…have fun at the Weedeater Bowl this year.
Alphare
October 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
also, kingdaddy, don’t forget to bet your house on a dawg win in the SECC game, since you sound so optimist, my friend.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
loganville……
That play was down the field. A defensive back cannot put his “other” hand….non defensive hand….on the back of a receiver when the receiver is going for the ball. It will be called every time….and that is what Smith did. They showed that replay this morning. Smith had his left hand down on Dunbar’s back and holding onto him. That is clearly interference.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:25 pm
Adman…..
I think it is Georgia who has more experience with “Weedeater” type bowls…..and losing at team…..see Central Florida and Memphis. You, sir, are an idiot in its purest form. And one with no class at all.
davidinloganville
October 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
not according to the rule as you posted it he did not impede or turn the receiver. All in all the officiating in the SEC has been bad for years but both teams (other than ALA who has SEC protection) suffer the same bad calls and usually the play on the field decides who wins the game.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
Adman…..
When you are at the Georgia vs. Florida game….watching two great teams going at it…..it is impossible to have a bad day. That game….played by two teams about as even as you can get….could have gone either way. This year……it went to Georgia. That, sir, is a fact.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
…..if you put you hand around the back of a receiver….as the receiver goes up to catch the ball…..you do impede his progress….and therefore is inferference…..and that play clearly was to anyone watching…..and the highlights I watched them morning. They showed the play three times….on replays…..and he impeded Dunbar’s ability to jump up for the ball.
davidinloganville
October 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
ADman-
the ACC now goes to the weedeater bowl and tech wishes they were good enough to go LOL
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:30 pm
……and the rule I posted relates to before the line of scrimmage and in the nutural zone. That play was in neither.
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
12:31 pm
Tampa Gator… I don’t have to spend my time replaying every down of a loss like you do and blame it on someone else to make myself feel better. I gues the stupid interception yous QB threw in the end zone was someone elses fault huh?….grow up and quit acting like a puss!
DP
October 28th, 2012
12:33 pm
“two great teams going at it” while compiling 24 penalties and 9 turnovers between them?
Blaming the officials for losing a game in which your team couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t pass the ball and turned the ball over 6 times? Had Aaron Murray not done his usual in a big game, the Gators should have lost yesterday by 4 or 5 touchdowns.
Tampa Gator, you’re embarrassing yourself, if that’s possible.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:34 pm
Adman….
Florida beats Missour easy….then plays two easy games….and will be 10 and 1 going into the FSU game. I doubt a 11-1 or 10-2 team (win or lose vs. FSU)…..will be going to a “Weedeater” bowl. And FSU will not have seen a defense like the one Florida has…..and Florida will have…..it was LSU, Georgia, South Carolina. I doubt the FSU defense will be any better than those three teams. The FSU game will be very similar to the Georgia game….and if the Gators don’t turn the ball over like they did vs. Georgia…..Florida will go 11-1 and most likely head to the Sugar Bowl. But you better not take Ole Miss lightly…..they might jump up and bite your SEC East title off.
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
12:39 pm
Tampa Gator = latent homosexual!
MiamiDawg
October 28th, 2012
12:40 pm
No one has mentioned that Florida went through LSU and South Carolina before they played Division 2 Georgia. Yet, they kept it close to the last few moments. I love the Dawgs but this team is average not because of the players but because of thr coaching staff. Most UGA fans are now used to our below average performing football program. In life you have to face the truth or you will begin to accept your own mediocrity as respectable achievement. Did I enjoy the win?; yes, more than you could ever imagine. Some people have advanced football IQs and so they watch the game a little differently than most. The coach running around the field like he won a NC was a sad sight to witness. How far we have fallen. How we won against that freshmen led Kenyucky team is still a mystery. Go Dawgs but fire the entire staff tonight. Don’t accept mediocrity when you can be great.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:43 pm
DP….
I did not blame the officials for Florida losing the game. I posted that they made two highly questionable calls that did impact the game in a positive way for Georgia. Who knows what would have happened after those plays if they had not been called incorrectly. The score might have been the same….but it might not have since Georgia would have been forced to punt both times….and Georgia would not have scored that last TD. But Georgia might have….and probably would have….stopped Florida from scoring….or Florida most likely would have had 8, not 6 turnovers….and still lost the game.
….and Florida and Georgia had basically the same amount of yards in the game (less than 10 yards difference). Florida had one more first down. Florida converted 6 or 17 3rd down opportunities. Georgia 1 of 10. The difference in the game was Florida having 6 turnovers and Georgia 3.
….and the reason Murray did not do his usual….was that great Florida D. And….using your logic….if Florida had not turned the ball over at all…..the Gators would have won by 4 or 5 TDs.
Now……who is TOTALLY embarrassing themselves.
North Georgia Dawg
October 28th, 2012
12:44 pm
Tampa, I thought the play by Easley was a bad call as well, but I don’t think the referees had the intention to get it wrong. I saw a hold that would have negated a big Gator run that was not called. I think it was either the tight end or tackle, but someone held and that was not called. I will give you credit, Tampa, you know more about football than most of the fans on this blog who talk out of their butts.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:45 pm
Adman….
figured you would come back with that last post. When unable to support your thinking….resort to homophobic insults that make you look like an idiotman.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
12:47 pm
Alphe
I’m not such a fool as to bet my house on anything I can’t control myself. I guess that tells us a lot about you, doesn’t it??? Get over it bro, you’re gonna lose, just like Tech…
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:47 pm
Thanks North Georgia…….and congrats on the win yesterday. Georgia earned it. Florida didn’t. That simple. But both Georgia and Florida have a lot of football to play…..and nothing is in stone yet. If not the SEC title game…..I will more than settle for 11-1 and a Sugar or some other BCS Bowl. And GatorNation will not want to fire our coach for it.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:49 pm
DAWGS now ranked # 6 in USA Today Poll
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:51 pm
Again…..time to move on. I will be pulling for Ole Miss next weekend…..but not holding out much hope…..no hope for the Auburn game. And Tech is in for big trouble with Georgia this year. But don’t fool yourself…..no one in the SEC beats Bama unless their QB gets hurt….and maybe not even then.
david
October 28th, 2012
12:52 pm
Dawgs will run the table and whip Bama or LSU in SEC Title Game. Then we whip Kansas State or Oregon in National Title Game. Our defense is back with a vengeance!
Anthony
October 28th, 2012
12:53 pm
1 of 10 on 3rd down conversions and we still won the game. Thank you defense and their coaches for having them prepared. The offense including Bobo could learn a lesson from the defense. I still think some major changes are needed with our offensive coaches.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:54 pm
Florida is soft under Muschamp, 0-2 against Georgia.
North Georgia Dawg
October 28th, 2012
12:55 pm
I agree, Alabama is not only loaded on defense, but their quarterback is actually the strength of their team. Look at the guy’s stats. And Saban is their coach still so Georgia will have a ton of trouble with them if they play in Atlanta. As for Ole Miss, they are not a bad team at all now that they have a better coach. But I think we’ll take them. And the worst Auburn team in decades doesn’t stand much of a chance.
DP
October 28th, 2012
12:55 pm
Tampa Gator, you misunderstood my comment on Murray. He did what he usually does in a big game, which is stink it up, but Georgia won despite him. Florida’s defense deserves some of the credit for his miserable game but some of his decision making was indefensible for a third year starter. The pick he threw down the middle with no Georgia receiver in sight was particularly pathetic. Fortunately for Georgia, Driskell (who you were telling us preseason was a stud) was even worse than Murray. At least Driskell has the excuse of being a first year starter.
I was expecting something better than a nearly unwatchable football game. How you can refer to that mistake filled slopfest as being a game between “two great teams” is beyond me. “Great team” Georgia has played one complete game all year, against Vanderbilt. “Great team” Florida demonstrated that they have a one dimensional offense and if the opponent can shut down their running game they’re helpless.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:55 pm
Pulling for MIZZOU next weekend and FSU later on.
bamaguy
October 28th, 2012
12:55 pm
“Ugly” is an empty stadium at half time. Looks like the “Auburn Family” cuts and runs when things aren’t going well.
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
…..and Florida is right after Georgia in the AP poll…….as it should be. What I do not understand is Ohio State being ranked higher than either Florida or Georgia. Both would win easily in that game.
Now…gone.
HPDawg
October 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
Man, the Dawgs played so bad, gut the coaching staff, this team is so terrible. Forget they now have the clear path to have their backsides handed to them by AL-A-BAM-A, it ain’t worth it. They will just embarrass all of us geniuses that want the coach fired.
I still see that our Dawgs have some growing to do, but we got a shot at special things this year, and that does not have to include a BCS title shot. I hope so, but of course all ya’ll anti Richt crowd will give the Dawgs no shot in the SECCG. Ha, ha, we shall see, we shall see……… Go Dawgs!!!
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
Tamp
there were a bunch of iffy calls and non-calls yesterday. Did you see the facemask on Mitchell on his touchdown? Snapped his head around, but was a no-call. I saw holds not called and a slew of other poor calls from the umps, both sides. BOTTOM LINE…..UGA was more physical at the line and Murray threw a touchdown while Driskel just got a beatdown…Maybe next year huh? Time for the Falcons bro. Glad you didn’t get hit with Sandy…
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:58 pm
GO FALCONS !
phil
October 28th, 2012
12:59 pm
Legal Eagle
October 28th, 2012
8:50 am
During the 1986 Jan Kemp trial, Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for UGA, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a typical UGA player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
That trial exposed UGA for the football factory that it was, and exposed slimy Vince Dooley as a fraud and a sleazebag. It also derailed Dooley’s plans for a political career in the U.S. Congress. That’s why we see the decrepit old fraud doing TV commercials even now.
Mark Richt is just the latest in a line of sleazy UGA coaches who coddle athletes and discard them after four years of football. He recruits illiterate morons he knows aren’t smart enough for college, but he doesn’t care, as long as they help him line his pockets with millions of dollars each year. But to Richt’s credit, he does produce a lot of fine garbagemen. And homeless drunks.
***********
moron, doof and dunderhead…..
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
1:00 pm
Have the new rankings come out yet??